Ninia sebae
Species of snake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ninia sebae, commonly known as the redback coffee snake[2] or the red coffee snake,[3] is a species of small terrestrial snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica.[1] Although it resembles some venomous coral snakes in color and size, it is not venomous and rarely bites humans.[4][5]
| Ninia sebae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Ninia |
| Species: | N. sebae |
| Binomial name | |
| Ninia sebae | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology
The specific name, sebae, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Albertus Seba.[6]
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
- Ninia sebae immaculata Schmidt & Rand, 1957
- Ninia sebae morleyi Schmidt & Andrews, 1936
- Ninia sebae punctulata (Bocourt, 1883)
- Ninia sebae sebae (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Ninia.
Habitat
Behavior
Coffee snakes (species in the genus Ninia) are thought to rely on concealment, flight and intimidation to avoid predation.[3] These snakes were observed either flattening their entire bodies when alarmed,[7] or remaining motionless in whatever position they were discovered.[8] In a more recent study these snakes, when touched, displayed a flattened head and neck, and raised their anterior third or half.[3]
Diet
N. sebae preys upon earthworms,[1][2] slugs, small land snails, and caecilians.[1]
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